One of his cruellest
hand-to-hand encounters had happened
when Hygelac, king of the Geats, was killed
in Friesland: the people's friend and lord,
Hrethel's son, slaked a sword blade's
thirst for blood. But Beowulf's prodigious
gifts as a swimmer guaranteed his safety:
he arrived at the shore, shouldering thirty
battle-dresses, the booty he had won.
There was little for the Hetware to be happy about
as they shielded their faces and fighting on the ground
began in earnest. With Beowulf against them,
few could hope to return home.
Across the wide sea, desolate and alone,
the son of Ecgtheow swam back to his people.
There Hygd offered him throne and authority
as lord of the ring-hoard: with Hygelac dead,
she had no belief in her son's ability
to defend their homeland against foreign invaders.
Yet there was no way the weakened nation
could get Beowulf to give in and agree
to be elevated over Heardred as his lord
or to undertake the office of kingship.
But he did provide support for the prince,
honoured and minded him until he matured
as the ruler of Geatland.
Then over sea-roads
exiles arrived, sons of Ohthere.
They had rebelled against the best of all
the sea-kings in Sweden, the one who held sway
in the Shylfing nation, their renowned prince,
lord of the mead-hall. That marked the end
for Hygelac's son: his hospitality
was mortally rewarded with wounds from a sword.
Headred lay slaughtered and Onela returned
to the land of Sweden, leaving Beowulf
to ascend the throne, to sit in majesty
and rule over the Geats. He was a good king.
In days to come, he contrived to avenge
the fall of his princ; he befriended Eadgils
when Eadgils was friendless, aiding his cause
with weapons and warriors over the wide sea,
sending him men. The feud was settled
on a comfortless campaign when he killed Onela.
Translation Lines 2354-2396
One of the most brutal fights
occurred when Hygelac, king of the Geats, was killed
in Friesland.
Hrethel’s son, the people’s friend and lord, wanted revenge,
but Beowulf’s great swimming ability guaranteed his safety.
When he arrived at the shore, Beowulf had thirty battle-dresses, the prices he had won.
The Hetware were not happy about
Beowulf and began fighting him. However, fighting Beowulf
would lead to their death.
From across the sea,
Ecgtheow swam back to his people.
Upon his arrival, Hygd bestowed upon him the authority
as a lord of the ring-hoard. Due to Hygelac’s death,
Hygd did not trust her son’s ability
to protect their homeland against foreign invaders.
There was no chance for the weak nation
to get Beowulf to agree
to take over Heardred’s kingship.
However, he supported the prince
until he matured as the ruler of Geatland.
Sons of Ohthere arrived by boats.
They were rebels from Sweden
who had rebelled against many kings,
including their own prince.
A sword killed Hygelac’s son because he was hospitable for these people.
Heardred was also murdered and Onela went back to Sweden,
handing Beowulf the throne. He was a good king.
In days to come, he plotted to avenge the fall of his prince.
He became friends with Eadgils and supported him with weapons and warriors over the sea.
Beowulf settled the feud when he killed Onela.
Original Lines 2354-2396
Translated Lines 2354-2396
Original Lines 2354-2396
One of his cruellest
hand-to-hand encounters had happened
when Hygelac, king of the Geats, was killed
in Friesland: the people's friend and lord,
Hrethel's son, slaked a sword blade's
thirst for blood. But Beowulf's prodigious
gifts as a swimmer guaranteed his safety:
he arrived at the shore, shouldering thirty
battle-dresses, the booty he had won.
There was little for the Hetware to be happy about
as they shielded their faces and fighting on the ground
began in earnest. With Beowulf against them,
few could hope to return home.
Across the wide sea, desolate and alone,
the son of Ecgtheow swam back to his people.
There Hygd offered him throne and authority
as lord of the ring-hoard: with Hygelac dead,
she had no belief in her son's ability
to defend their homeland against foreign invaders.
Yet there was no way the weakened nation
could get Beowulf to give in and agree
to be elevated over Heardred as his lord
or to undertake the office of kingship.
But he did provide support for the prince,
honoured and minded him until he matured
as the ruler of Geatland.
Then over sea-roads
exiles arrived, sons of Ohthere.
They had rebelled against the best of all
the sea-kings in Sweden, the one who held sway
in the Shylfing nation, their renowned prince,
lord of the mead-hall. That marked the end
for Hygelac's son: his hospitality
was mortally rewarded with wounds from a sword.
Headred lay slaughtered and Onela returned
to the land of Sweden, leaving Beowulf
to ascend the throne, to sit in majesty
and rule over the Geats. He was a good king.
In days to come, he contrived to avenge
the fall of his princ; he befriended Eadgils
when Eadgils was friendless, aiding his cause
with weapons and warriors over the wide sea,
sending him men. The feud was settled
on a comfortless campaign when he killed Onela.
Translation Lines 2354-2396
One of the most brutal fights
occurred when Hygelac, king of the Geats, was killed
in Friesland.
Hrethel’s son, the people’s friend and lord, wanted revenge,
but Beowulf’s great swimming ability guaranteed his safety.
When he arrived at the shore, Beowulf had thirty battle-dresses, the prices he had won.
The Hetware were not happy about
Beowulf and began fighting him. However, fighting Beowulf
would lead to their death.
From across the sea,
Ecgtheow swam back to his people.
Upon his arrival, Hygd bestowed upon him the authority
as a lord of the ring-hoard. Due to Hygelac’s death,
Hygd did not trust her son’s ability
to protect their homeland against foreign invaders.
There was no chance for the weak nation
to get Beowulf to agree
to take over Heardred’s kingship.
However, he supported the prince
until he matured as the ruler of Geatland.
Sons of Ohthere arrived by boats.
They were rebels from Sweden
who had rebelled against many kings,
including their own prince.
A sword killed Hygelac’s son because he was hospitable for these people.
Heardred was also murdered and Onela went back to Sweden,
handing Beowulf the throne. He was a good king.
In days to come, he plotted to avenge the fall of his prince.
He became friends with Eadgils and supported him with weapons and warriors over the sea.
Beowulf settled the feud when he killed Onela.